Restraining device for wheelchairs and the like

ABSTRACT

A restraining device for use with wheelchairs and the like, for preventing patients from falling out and hurting themselves. The device includes a padded bar which extends above and across the seat portion of the chair, and is supported by a pair of brackets oppositely arranged on the side arms of the chair.

nite States Patent Inventor Garnet Hardy 1227 North Main St., Marion, Ohio 43302 816,593 Apr. 16, 1969 Nov. 9, 1971 Applv No. Filed Patented RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR WHEELCHAIRS AND THE LIKE 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 297/390 Int. Cl A47c 31/00 Field of Search .1 297/390,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 296,975 4/1884 Lampton 297/39 D 1,841,954 1/1932 .lellineck 297/390 X 2,755,101 7/1956 Budde 297/390 X Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney-Buell, Blenko & Ziesenheim ABSTRACT: A restraining device for use with wheelchairs and the like, for preventing patients from falling out and hurting themselves. The device includes a padded bar which extends above and across the seat portion of the chair, and is supported by a pair of brackets oppositely arranged on the side arms of the chair PATENTEDuuv 9 l9?! 3,619,005

mvemon Garnet Hardy RESTRAINING DEVICE FOR WHEELCHAIRS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to a restraining device for use with wheelchairs, and the like, for restraining and holding patients against falling out and hurting themselves.

Various supporting devices are used for securing patients in wheelchairs, beds, and the like, without fear of them falling and hurting themselves. These supporting devices are usually in the form of cloth vests, harnesses or straps designed to be fastened tightly around patient. Needless to say, these supporting devices are cumbersome to use and a source of discomfort and physical irritation to the patient. My invention is a very simple device, which is inexpensive to make and easy to use, and additionally will not physically irritate or cause any undue discomfort to the patient. More specifically, my invention includes, preferably, a padded bar sized to extend across the seat of a wheelchair, for example; a pair of brackets mounted on the side arm support portions of the chair and having a series of openings for receiving the ends of the bar; and locking means for locking the bar in place with the brackets. The position of the bar can be changed with respect to the chair by simply placing it in different openings in the brackets, and thus the needs of different patients can be readily accommodated.

Other details and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

in the accompanying drawings, I have shown a present preferred embodiment of my invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of parts of a wheelchair and a patient sitting therein, showing the restraining device of my invention as it would be used in one application; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of my restraining device as shown in FIG. 1, parts of which are shown cut away for showing details of construction.

Referring now to the drawings, generally represents a wheelchair of any well-known construction, having familiar side arm members 12. The restraining device of my invention is generally represented by the numeral and is shown in use with wheelchair 10 for preventing patients sitting in the chair from falling out and injuring themselves. My restraining device 20 includes a pair of identical elongated brackets 22 made of any suitable rigid metallic or nonmetallic material. Each bracket 22 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 24 suitably sized for loosely receiving the ends of the restraining bar member 30 as shown in the drawings. The brackets 22 are disposed oppositely to each other and are fixed to the side arm members 12 by suitable means such as by screws 26, for example. The restraining bar member 30 is formed from any suitable rigid or semirigid metallic and nonmetaliic material, and, as shown in the drawings, is formed of pipe 32 with its ends closed. A suitable soft plastic or rubber covering 34 is placed around a major portion of pipe 32, leaving the ends exposed for fitting into the openings 24 of the brackets 22. Locking means in the form of spring locks 36 of any well-known construction are inserted through appropriately sized openings formed through the end portions of the pipe 32. Thus, the restraining bar member 30 is simply locked in place with respect to the brackets 22. As an alternative, padlocks can be used for the locking means in place of the spring locks 36.

It should now be more evident that any restraining device is a very simple, yet effective, device for safely and comfortably holding patients in wheelchairs, and the like, without fear of the patients falling out and injuring themselves. It should also be apparent that my restraining device can be used on ordinary chairs or beds having side arms or rails.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I a l I u u I 0 l. A restraining device kit for installation on an existing wheelchair having side support members serving as arm rests, said kit comprising:

a. a pair of elongated flat bracket members, each having a series of spaced holes therein,

b. attachment means for securing said bracket members to the respective side support members in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other so that corresponding holes in the two bracket members are in lateral registry,

c. a restraining rod member conforming closely in diameter to the diameter of the holes in said bracket members and having a length greater than the distance between the bracket members as attached to the side support members, said rod member having a resilient protective covering of substantial radial thickness extending along the length thereof and terminating short of the ends of the rod member, said rod member being installable selectively in different corresponding sets of laterally registering holes in the said bracket members by longitudinal movement of the rod member successively in opposite directions to first insert one end through a hole in the bracket member on one side support member and then to insert the opposite end through the corresponding hole in the bracket member on the other side support member, and

d. means removably securable to the ends of said rod member after installation in the holes in said bracket members, to prevent longitudinal dislodgement of the said rod member from the bracket members.

i I I I 

1. A restraining device kit for installation on an existing wheelchair having side support members serving as arm rests, said kit comprising: a. a pair of elongated flat bracket members, each having a series of spaced holes therein, b. attachment means for securing said bracket members to the respective side support members in substantially parallel spaced relation to each other so that corresponding holes in the two bracket members are in lateral registry, c. a restraining rod member conforming closely in diameter to the diameter of the holes in said bracket members and having a length greater than the distance between the bracket members as attached to the side support members, said rod member having a resilient protective covering of substantial radial thickness extending along the length thereof and terminating short of the ends of the rod member, said rod member being installable selectively in different corresponding sets of laterally registering holes in the said bracket members by longitudinal movement of the rod member successively in opposite directions to first insert one end through a hole in the bracket member on one side support member and then to insert the opposite end through the corresponding hole in the bracket member on the other side support member, and d. means removably securable to the ends of said rod member after installation in the holes in said bracket members, to prevent longitudinal dislodgement of the said rod member from the bracket members. 